Good afternoon 9G1 and ms zailaa.
Today were going to shed some light on a hazard on our
roads. Speeding.
Speeding has been a major issue in NSW for some time, with it being the leading
cause of fatalities and injuries on the roads.
Statistics show that each year, speeding is a contributing factor in 24% of serious
injuries and 41% of fatalities in the state, resulting in approximately 150 deaths and
1,270 serious injuries annually.
Young drivers, particularly those aged 18 to 24, are twice as likely to receive speeding
tickets.
Despite the dangers associated with speeding, there is a concerning sentiment
among Australians, with 25% of them expressing a desire to see speed limits raised.
It is crucial to understand that driving at high speeds not only increases the likelihood
of a crash but also magnifies the severity of the crash outcome, posing a higher risk
of death or serious harm.
Notably, young drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 are the most affected by
speeding, both in terms of fatal and non-fatal incidents.
Speeding is responsible for more deaths among teenage drivers than any other risky
driving behaviour.
Among teenage drivers involved in speeding-related accidents, 80% of fatalities are
males, while females aged 17 to 25 account for 6%.
Additionally, 18 to 24-year-olds are twice as likely as the rest of the Australian
population to receive speeding tickets, further highlighting the prevalence of this
issue among young drivers.
In this graph, it displays the deaths of speeding crashes on posted limits. As we can
see, from 2018-2021 on the 80-90km/h, there has been a decrease in deaths, this
may be due to stricter road laws and possibly higher fine rates. Annual deaths in
zones 80km/h and higher have decreased by 2%. Which is a good sign as 80-90km/h
is actually a really fast speed.
Similarly, in these two graphs, we see a significant decrease in deaths by 2020-2021.
This is a great improvement considering the severity of damage these extremely high
speeds could do. Speeding at these rates is a one-way ticket to ultimate fatality and
should not be taken lightly.
In this graph, which highlights the comparison of casualties before and after speed
cameras have been installed in one of our local roads in Bankstown. Compared from
2017 clearly, 2018-19 has the lowest numbers of casualties after camera installation.
Overall, total injuries went down a good 32% and casualty crashes went down by
23% but that may have decreased even more by this year. All of this goes to show
what an excellent job speed cameras are doing for our society, keeping young drivers
from speeding in places like school zones and getting into detrimental crashes.
The 'Casual Speeding. Every K Counts' campaign urges motorists to reconsider their belief
that driving slightly above the speed limit is not dangerous, and encourages everyone to
change their habit to avoid driving over the speed limit at any level.
It highlights the real risks and repercussions of driving 'just a little bit' faster than the speed
limit or too fast for the conditions. The campaign emphasises how driving "a few kilometres"
beyond the speed limit can have major consequences for you and others.
It reminds drivers that they can make a difference by driving safely, never exceeding the
speed limit, and adhering to the current road conditions every time they step behind the
wheel.
Positives of this campaign:
1. Awareness and education: The programme effectively raises driver awareness of the
possible consequences of careless speeding. It teaches drivers on the impact that even
little deviations from the speed limit can have on road safety by emphasising the
cumulative effect of small increases in speed.
2. Potential for behavioural change: By emphasising the repercussions of careless
speeding, the campaign hopes to impact driver behaviour and encourage a more
responsible approach to driving. It has the potential to encourage drivers to be more
aware of their speed, resulting in fewer accidents and injuries caused by speeding-
related occurrences.
Negatives/ rooms for improvement:
1. Limited impact on habitual speeders: The programme may be less effective in
reaching habitual speeders who consistently exceed speed limits. These drivers may
require more specialised actions, such as stronger enforcement or personalised
interventions, to influence their behaviour.
2. Lack of particular methods: While the campaign increases awareness and
emphasises the significance of obeying speed limits, it may benefit from including
specific techniques and interventions to assist the targeted behavioural change.
Additional measures, such as increased enforcement, road infrastructure
improvements, or driver instruction programmes, could boost the campaign's
efficacy.
Overall, the campaign has seemed to be effective. From the graphs I’ve shown earlier, clearly
our r0ads are getting safer and people are speeding less. There are other campaigns as well
contributing to this like “Stop it or cop it” and “Double demerits” which installs fear into
drivers which majorly helps them not speed in avoidances of hefty fines, losing demerit
points from their license and getting into trouble with police.
